God has placed in each of our hearts the desire and longing for true happiness. The virtue of hope responds to this innermost desire and helps us to place our trust in God.
To be with the Lord forever is the heart’s deepest desire, even more profound than its desire for life itself. It stems from the believer’s sincere love of Jesus.
“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Pope St. John Paul II mentioned that the Blessed Virgin Mary is a model of this virtue for the Church. She was also called to believe what was unbelievable in human terms. The archangel Gabriel announced to her that she would become the mother of God. She opened her heart and trusted in God’s guidance. Mary placed her trust in the everlasting kingdom which her Son had come to establish. She stood faithfully by His cross. Hope is what filled the Blessed Virgin Mary’s heart during the dark days after her Son’s death on the cross. From Friday afternoon until Sunday morning, Mary’s heart remained filled as she waited for Jesus to rise from the dead just as He had said. “Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31
Mary waited patiently for God’s promise to be fulfilled. After Pentecost, she strengthened the Church’s hope when they encountered difficulties, suffering, and persecution.
Pope John Paul II stated in Mary: Model of Faith, Hope, and Charity, “Mary is thus the Mother of hope for the community of believers and for individual Christians, and she encourages and guides Her children as they await the kingdom, supporting them in their daily trials and throughout the events of history, however tragic.”
Lent reminds us that we must not place our hope in earthly things. Instead, we must place it in Jesus. Lent calls us to refocus are thoughts upon Jesus, whose love sustains and comforts us in our daily lives.
Hope is not the same as optimism, it is not based on human assurances, but on the promise and word of God. Hope calls us to accept what is difficult for us to understand in God’s plans. True hope does not disappoint.
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24
Ask the Lord to strengthen your hope in times of darkness and help you to be a source of hope for others. No matter how dark the night may seem, a single candle can overcome it. Let THIS Lent grow hope into a heroic virtue in your life. Be the candle in the darkness. Make your hope contagious!
“Although the path is very thorny, I do not fear to go ahead. Even if a hailstorm of persecutions covers me; even if my friends forsake me, even if all things conspire against me, and the horizon grows dark; even if a raging storm breaks out, and I feel I am quite alone and must brave it all; still, fully at peace, I will trust in Your mercy, O my God, and my hope will not be disappointed.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1195